The Big 3 men kept things rolling at Wimbledon Monday. On the greatest day on the tennis calendar, the greatest tennis players lived up the hype destroying their opposition in the fourth round.

On first on center, Nadal had now trouble hammer Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. The Portuguese No. 1 who was playing in his first Wimbledon fourth round, never saw a break point in defeat.

“I think it was a good solid match,” Nadal said. “Still, the serve didn’t work as well as two days ago, but the rest of things have been very positive. A lot of positive things out there: good forehand, good backhand, changing the rhythm of the point with the slice sometimes, good volleys too. Happy for the victory and to be back in quarter-final. Great news for me.”

Nadal has now won his last 11 matches. He’ll now face American Sam Querrey who served his way to a third Wimbledon quarterfinal edging countryman Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 7-5.

“When he plays well, he can be very, very dangerous on all surfaces,” Nadal said of Querrey. “But of course, on fast surfaces, when he serves with his aggressive game, [he is] maybe more [dangerous].”

Federer was on later on Centre Court against the Matteo Berrettini. The 23-year-old had the most grass wins on the tour (12) and had won Stuttgart without dropping a set. But Federer made Berrettini look hapless out there, at one point making the Italian trip over himself late in the match much to the laughter of everyone. Federer cruised 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

“I said, ‘Thanks for the tennis lesson, how much do I owe you?’” Berrettini said after.

“I think for sure I didn’t play my best match, but he was just too good for me today. He was playing good and I was kind of tight, also,” Berrettini added. “Before the match I was ready for that stuff, and also when he started to play like this, for me, it was really tough to do anything.

“You can try to change something, but when he’s playing like this, it’s tough to change. You can change mentally but he’s not going to change anything. I think it’s going to be really helpful for my career.”

Federer won his 99th career match at Wimbledon, and so far he’s looked more like 27 than 37.

“Today was excellent. I was very happy,” Federer said. “I was expecting a tough match and a close one with not many chances. It was actually quite the opposite, so that was great.”

The Swiss now gets Kei Nishikori who won comfortably 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 over Mikhail Kukushkin.

“I think it’s going to be tough, plus he’s getting into quarters with a lot of energy. I remember some of the Slams recently he arrived into the later stages with maybe some tough matches going into it. So far it’s been really easy for him,” Federer said. “I think he’s ready. I’m a big fan of his game. I think he’s got one of the best backhands in the game that we have right now. He’s a great return player. Solid mentally. I always thought he was a great talent.”

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was sent off the Court 1 to do battle and the Serb came good thrashing Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic never faced a break points en route to his 11th straight Wimbledon match win and 11th Wimbledon quarterfinal.

“That’s always the aim: to reach the final stages of Grand Slams,” he said. “These are the biggest events in our sport so I always try to set my form so that I can play my best at these tournaments. I try not to take things for granted – to get to the final eight is a great result but we keep on going.

“I never played Ugo before but I’ve seen him play at the US Open last year, French Open this year; he’s won against a couple of great players at this tournament. So I definitely had to study his game and tactically adjust. He probably wasn’t at his best but he’s had a great tournament and I’m just very pleased to execute the job in three sets.”

“To reach the quarter-finals for the first time, it means a lot, and especially because a few months, I had tough moments on the court, tough moments off the court,” Goffin said. “Now, to be back with my best tennis, especially here, it’s the perfect place and the perfect moment.”

Of all the players, the only one who hasn’t dropped a set (in either draw) is Roberto Bautista Agut. The 31-year-old reached his second Slam quarterfinal of the year after dispatching Benoit Paire 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. Bautista Agut has dropped serve just twice all event.

He’ll now test surprise quarterfinal Guido Pella who came from two sets down to deny former finalist Milos Raonic 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3), 8-6.

“It’s a very nice feeling, because seriously, I never thought that I was going to do the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam,” Pella said.

“I always try to fight for every ball. When I was two sets down, that was a very tough moment for me because he was playing really, really good. But after the third set, I think I started to play much better.

“When I won the fourth set, it was not easier for me, but… I felt he was starting to be a little bit down in his game, slower and so I tried to be more focused than ever.”

It was the first time Raonic has blown a two set lead in his career. The big-serving Canadian served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth.

“I just started to run out of gas,” Raonic said. “Obviously, he was the one who was physically much better towards the end.

“It’s frustrating. It’s twice this year. I ran out of gas in Australia and ran out of gas here. That happened to me a few times early in my career, and I thought it was unacceptable, and I think of it exact same way now.”

Pella now has consecutive wins over two former runner ups in Kevin Anderson and now Raonic. It’s his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

The men will have a day off before return for the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Surprised at the Raonic match, and his excuse. Dude, you’re playing at Wimbledon!
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“That’s always the aim: to reach the final stages of Grand Slams,”
Dude, there was no aiming required here, your draw was set up so you just had to point in the general direction and go. Goffin? Really? C’mon man!
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Querry has only beat Rafa 1 out of 4 tries, but will be their first H2H on Grass. Rafa is in form, but Querry has the big serve and tall enough with his 2hbh to handle Rafa’s kick FH. If it was the grass of old, I’d pick Querry in a heart beat. Now? On this green Clay? Rrrrrafa!
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NIshi Has a good chance against my fav….no exhaustive matches nor nursing injuries. This one is a big danger zone for Fed. Hope he still plays aggressive, keep that serve on point, and keeps the UFE’s low.
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Agut – Pella? Uh, whatever.

I totally agree with you about Rafa. On this surface I don’t give Querrey much of a chance. And you are the only other person on here besides me that gives Nishikori a real shot against Federer. I think it’s going to be a tight match for sure.

Berretini played easily the worst match of the tournament. It was soooo bad. That’s why it’s actually hard to look at this match and say Federer played his best match so far. It’s kind of like a throw this match out if your looking for what kind of form Federer is in.

I know you would Dave.
If Wimbledon has consistency, they should say, ok, we fined Tomic, let’s compare his match with Berrettini’s one, to me second one is even worse than first one, so £45K for Berrettini too.
Don’t forget, Berrettini is ranked #20 and Tomic #96, so if you are going to have some leniency you would give it to lower ranked player, no?

Here’s the difference re; fines – Tomic has a “history” of not performing(among other stuff) where as Berrettini has actually done very well as of late on Grass. What happened? Don’t know, but some credit does go to the GOAT just being the GOAT and the stage on a premier court at Wimbledon.
Djoker opponents haven’t looked particularly sharp either btw ;)
Face it, the quality of opponents this year has not been so stellar.

Rafa is looking in menacing form and orchestrating “operation demolition” in his every match, giving scant regard to the reputation of his Opponent. He has carried over his form from Rolland Garros and looking invincible. The only hope for his future opponents is the possibility of him peaking too early and vulnerable for implosion. I feel that if Novak doesn’t reach the final, Rafa will be kissing his third trophy at Wimbledon for certain.

Let us not forget how amazing all of our players are. We are still writing about them, talking about them, now. Today, in 2019, thinking that all three, at some point, with their injuries, their surgeries and the possibilities of having their careers curtailed, looming on the horizon. We are blessed that Fed, Rafa and Novak are getting better and better.

Serena gave a beautiful description of Fed’s game yesterday. Certainly, he played brilliantly yesterday.

Also Djoko and Fed are playing seed players, Fed actually playing the sole top 10 left other than Big 3. I knew for sure Djoko wouldn’t play Court 1.

Nadal has Querrery on a “graveyard” for top players court. A bit extra danger. But it all depends on Querrey’s serve and Nadal is returning pretty great this tourney.

I still think kei won’t be that dangerous for Fed. Maybe he still a set and play anotehr tough one. But can not see him beating Fed in wimbledon unless Federer has a really bad day, which he hasn’t in quite some time now.

RZ: Nishi was doing some very heavy breathing, plus in normal circumstances Fed. is the better player…..that said, I didn’t see Fed’s match yesterday so don’t know if he’s close to his best or not. Hence I agree with Daniel – unless Fed. has a really bad day tomorrow he’ll win. PS: What does your bracket show?

Federer was broken just 2 times in 58 service games and won 2 tiebreaks he played.

Kei has a decent return game enough to break Fed at leats once, but his serve is not big enough for Federer to just not break him alternating his slice return, almost drop shots like return0, top spin and drive. Too much variation.

Unless you are Nadal or Djokovic (who are the most consistant players from the backcourt ever), even with no huge serves, you just can’t beat Federer on Wimbledon centre court when he is confident without a big serve: Anderson / Raonic / Tsonga / Berdych / Stakhovich / Ancic

And for Nadal it took him 5 sets and Novak 2 close 4 setters when he was at his peak.

I think that Querrey presents huge challenges to Rafa if he can return well. He needs to make Rafa work hard for his service games. I kind of think Querrey will find his way through. Have to pick an upset somewhere right?

As for Federer, if he serves up to Federer standards, I think that match is done in three. Nishikori can’t blow Federer off the court so Federer will be able to get into the points and use his subtlety and shot selection to beat Kei.

A has been and a not yet to be. An over his prime player can play as bad as a potential new comer overwhelmed without experience in centre court: classic 2 opposites scenarios with the same result.
Same as an old player can have a fabulous performance and a newcomer hit the zone with just confidence and no “bad loses” still to come. Too bad this second scenarios didn’t happened.